Hedi Slimane Fires Back at Celine Critics

October 4, 2018

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Hedi Slimane’s Celine debut was one of the most exciting, and divisive, moments of fashion month. His first collection for the house was lambasted in the press, with some writers going as far as to dub him the “Donald Trump of fashion”. Last night on French TV, the designer responded. On 5 Minutes de Mode by Loïc Prigent, the journalist showed some of the headlines he’d caused, followed by Slimane’s response, obtained via an interview with the designer conducted over email.

“You’re dealing with politics, conflicts of interest, cliques, a predictable attitude, but also staggering exaggerations of conservatism and puritanism,” he said. “Violence is a reflection of our time – the rabble-rousing spirit of social networks, despite the fact that they are a formidable community tool. There are no longer any limits, hatred is amplified and takes over.” As for the Trump comparisons, he described them as “opportunistic, rather bold and fairly comical, just because the young women in my show are liberated and carefree”.

Prigent is apparently publishing the full interview some time next week. Head here to read Slimane’s response in full.